Senior Field Operations Worker

Update: UPDATE: Please note that the selection process has been amended to extend the closing date to May 16, 2022 - 23:59, Pacific Time.

Important messages

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the Contact information below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Assessment accommodation

Please help us meet our commitment of providing an inclusive and barrier-free environment by letting us know if you require assessment accommodations, including assistance with the application process. Additional information on the assessment format(s) (for example: exam, interview) will be provided at each assessment stage.

As one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is proud to celebrate our achievement in creating a diverse, respectful, and positive workplace where all employees are valued and recognized for their unique qualities, ideas, voices and perspectives. We are dedicated to building and promoting a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce, representative of all Canadians regardless of race, ethnicity, colour, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, socio-economic background or lived experience. By embracing diversity and inclusion, our department ensures broader discussions, better decisions, and a more positive workplace.

We welcome all candidates, including Indigenous Peoples, Black, other racialized groups, persons with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ2+ community to apply and strongly encourage candidates to self-declare if they belong to an Employment Equity designated group (i.e. Indigenous (Aboriginal*) Peoples, Persons with Disabilities, Women or Visible Minorities - Black people and other racialized groups).

*The term “Aboriginal” is used within this job advertisement as it relates to the Employment Equity Act and other legislative frameworks. The term “Indigenous” is used where possible, in alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Work environment

This position reports to a senior technician and must be able to work outside in the summer and to work extended hours during certain parts of the year. The individual will participate in seeding, plot maintenance, harvest, cleaning of grain, packaging of seed for analysis and seed set up for planting. This job requires the ability to operate equipment and work outside in varying weather conditions. This site conducts irrigation work and there is some involvement in using this equipment. Travel is limited. There is exposure to dust pollen and noise and the incumbent must to be able to do this work which may require the use of personal protective equipment. The successful candidate must be able lift and carry samples and participate in a range of activities supporting wheat genetic enhancement.

Intent of the process

The immediate intent is to fill :
-One (1) indeterminate position in Brandon, Manitoba
-Four (4) term positions in Brandon, Manitoba
-One (1) anticipatory term position in Lacombe, Alberta
-One (1) anticipatory term position in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

A pool of qualified and partially qualified candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions with various tenures as well as various linguistic requirements.

In the event that an employee of the public service is qualified through this process, and there is a temporary need, he/she may be considered for acting, deployment, assignment or secondment opportunities.

Positions to be filled: 7

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

Contact information for 2 references.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

EDUCATION
Successful completion of secondary school diploma OR an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience

If you were educated outside of Canada, you must have your certificates and/or diplomas assessed against Canadian education standards. Click on the link below to contact the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC).

Degree equivalent : https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/jobs/services/gc-jobs/degree-equivalency.html

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE
Experience in the operation of plot scale (for example harvesters, seeders, sprayers) and/or farm equipment (for example tractors, combine, farm trucks).
Experience working with field crops and weed species.
Experience in processing seed (e.g. cleaning) and/or soil (e.g. collecting) samples.

If you possess any of the following, your application must also clearly explain how you meet it (other qualifications)

ASSET CERTIFICATION
Pesticide Applicator’s License issued by Manitoba for field application or greenhouse application.
Forklift Operator’s License issued by a provincially certified agency.

ASSET EXPERIENCE
Experience in working in an agricultural research environment.

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

English essential

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge of crop production.
Knowledge of field chemicals.
Knowledge of crop pests and diseases.

COMPETENCIES
Teamwork
Adaptability
Interactive Communication

ABILITIES
Ability to identify major grain crop species.
Ability to perform basic data entry and data management using Microsoft Excel and Word.
Ability to record information for the purposes of record keeping – accurately and legibly.
Ability to operate agricultural or farm equipment.
Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations.

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

ASSET KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge of modern greenhouse practices, plant maintenance and growing conditions in controlled environment.

In support of achieving a diversified workforce, consideration may be given to candidates self-identifying as belonging to one of the following employment equity groups: aboriginal peoples, persons with a disability; visible minorities, women.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

All employees of the core public administration are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and attest to their vaccination status unless accommodated based on a medical contraindication, religion, or another prohibited ground for discrimination as defined under the Canadian Human Rights Act.

Possession of a valid driver’s license.

Ability and willingness to work in harsh environments (outdoors, cold, hot, dust and noise).
Ability and willingness to work overtime including evening, weekends and statutory holidays.
Ability and willingness to work with chemicals and pesticides.
Ability and willingness to perform physically demanding work including moderate to heavy manual labour requiring bending and lifting heavy objects (up to 25kg).
Ability and willingness to control allergies, through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication and must not impinge on tasks to be performed.
Ability and willingness to obtain a Pesticide Applicators License issued by the Manitoba Agriculture within eighteen months of appointment.
Ability and willingness to obtain a Forklift Operator’s License issued by a provincially certified agency within one year of appointment.

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

ASSESSEMENT INFORMATION

You must meet all essential qualifications in order to be appointed to the position. Other qualifications may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed. Some essential and other qualifications will be assessed through your application. It is your responsibility to provide appropriate examples that illustrate how you meet each qualification. Failing to do so could result in your application being rejected.

Various assessment tools may be used, such as, standardized tests, interviews, references, board member knowledge, etc.

All communication relating to this process, including email correspondence may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

A random or top down selection of candidates may be used in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process.

Appointment decisions may be based on one or more of the following criteria:
- Matching of the individual's experience or qualifications to the strengths and weaknesses of the work team.
- Matching of the individual's experience or qualifications to the specific duties of the position being staffed.
- Depth, breadth, type of work-specific experience.
- Level/degree of one or more competencies/qualifications.

A test may be administered.

An interview may be administered.

Reference checks may be sought.

You must provide proof of your education credentials.

Asset qualifications may be used in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process.

APPLICATION & CORRESPONDENCE INFORMATION

Applications submitted by email will not be accepted. You must apply on-line through www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/jobs/services/gc-jobs.html.

Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying on-line are asked to contact the email referenced below under "Contact Information".

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice. Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.

Communication for this process will be sent via email. It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required. Candidates who apply to this selection process should include an email address that accepts email from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email).


On October 6, 2021, the Government of Canada announced details of its plans to require vaccination across the federal public service. The details can be found on this site: https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/news/2021/10/backgrounder-covid-19-vaccine-requirement-for-the-federal-workforce.html

As per the new Policy on COVID-19 Vaccination for the Core Public Administration Including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, federal public servants in the Core Public Administration and members of the RCMP must attest to their vaccination status. The requirement for employees to be fully vaccinated applies whether they are teleworking, working remotely or working on-site. This is a condition of employment and it applies to indeterminate (permanent), determinate (term), casual, and student hiring. Should you reach the point in the selection process where it is necessary to verify terms and conditions of employment then the hiring manager or a human resources representative will contact you in order to complete an attestation. The Policy can be found on this site: https://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pol/doc-eng.aspx?id=32694

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans first and then to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.